Momentarily closing switch apparatus

ABSTRACT

A switch apparatus for momentarily closing its contacts to complete a circuit with motion in one direction having at least one fixed contact, a rocker arm, at least one moving contact on the rocker arm, a pawl for moving the rocker arm to swing the moving contact against the fixed contact, an actuator for moving the pawl and spring means resiliently displaceably urging the rocker arm and the actuator-pawl to their unactuated positions with the contacts open. The actuator-pawl moves the rocker arm to move the movable contact against the fixed contact to close a circuit. A cam engages the pawl immediately after the pawl has moved the rocker arm to close the contacts. The cam then moves the pawl off the rocker arm whereupon the spring means reversely move the rocker arm opening the contacts with the actuator-pawl still in the actuated position.

United States Patent [191 Adams 1 MOMENTARILY CLOSING SWITCH APPARATUS [75] Inventor: Arnold G. Adams, Troy, Mich. [73] Assignee: Theodore E. Fiddler, Birmingham,

Mich.

[22] Filed: Mar. 29, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 345,978

52 U.S. c1. 200/160 [51] Int. Cl. H01h 13/52 [58] Field of Search 200/160, 153 W [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,142,743 7/1964 Borges 200/160 3,281,565 10/1966 Grady et a1. 200/160 UX FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 7/1964 Great Britain 200/153 W UX [451 Aug. 6, 1974 7' Primary ExaminerRobert K. Schaefer [57] ABSTRACT A switch apparatus for momentarily closing its contacts to complete a circuit with motion in one direction having at least one fixed contact, a rocker arm, at least one moving contact on the rocker arm, a pawl for moving the rocker arm to swing the moving contact against the fixed contact, an actuator for moving the pawl and spring means resiliently displaceably urging the rocker arm and the actuator-pawl to their unactuated positions with the contacts open. The actuator-pawl moves the rocker arm to move the movable contact against the fixed contact to close a circuit. A cam engages the pawl immediately after the pawl has moved the rocker arm to close the contacts.

The cam then moves the pawl off the rocker arm whereupon the spring means reversely move the rocker arm opening the contacts with the actuatorpawl still in the actuated position.

7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures I MOMENTARILY CLOSING SWITCH APPARATUS Arnold G. Adams, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at 1670 McManus Road, Troy, Oakland County, Mich. 48084, is the applicant herein for Letters Patent of the United States of America for Momentarily Closing Switch Apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are systems and devices which are operated by an electrical impulse to do certain acts, assume positions, change conditions, etc., in relation to the movement, position, condition, etc., of another part, apparatus, etc. In many instances the moving part which is used to actuate a switch moves to a position and remains at the position until a later time or upon another action so that with the conventional switch, the switch contacts will remain closed until reverse movement of the actuating part. Thus in the prior art the switch closes and stays closed continuing a live circuit and/or a continuing signal until the switch is opened or allowed to open by reverse motion. In a system where it is desired to signal that an event has occurred, an action has happened, a part is in a certain position, etc., it is only necessary to give a momentary signal and there is no need to continue energizing the signal circuit and in many instances continued energizing is objectionable.

SUMMARY OF THEPRESENT INVENTION With the foregoing in view it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a switch apparatus which closes its contacts to complete a circuit and then immediately opens its contacts to break the circuit upon unidirectional motion in the actuating direction and without reverse motion of the actuation element.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus having contact closing and opening switch means holding the contacts normally open, actuation means hearing on the switch means for moving the switch means to close the contacts, and cam means for moving the actuating means out of bearing position on the switch means to allow the switch means to open the contacts with the actuating means in the actuated position without reverse motion of the actuating means.

An object of the invention is to provide switch apparatus capable of producing a momentary signal upon unidirectional motion of a part.

An object of the invention is to provide switch apparatus which will signal the change of position, condition, etc., of an element with a momentary impulse.

An object of the invention is to provide switch apparatus which will produce a live circuit momentarily and then break the circuit.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent by reference to the detailed description of the illustrated embodiments of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the device seen in FIG. 2, showing internal parts in broken lines.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 1, taken on the line 2-2 thereof showing the internal parts in elevation.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration similar to FIG. 2 showing the unactuated condition of the switch, with the contacts open.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the closed condition of the switch with the contacts engaged effected by initial movement of the pawl.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing further movement of the pawl with the pawl cammed out of engagement with the rocker arm.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the rocker arm moved by the spring to open the contacts after the pawl is cammed out of engagement while still 'in actuated condition.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing a modified embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a separate diagramatic showing of the moving bridge connector and the fixed contacts of the device seen in FIGS. 1-6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, the momentarily closing switch apparatus disclosed therein to illustrate the invention comprises a case 10, FIGS. 1-6. Paired fixed contacts 11 and 12 are mounted on the case 10. A rocker arm 13 is pivoted on a pin 14 anchored in the case 10. The

pin 14 may turn with the rocker arm 13 or the rocker arm 13 may turn relative to the pin 14. A movable dual bridge connector 15 is mounted on the rocker arm 13. Contacts 15A and 158 on the movable dual bridge connector are adapted to engage fixed contacts 11 and 12 respectively. Rotation of the rocker arm 13 closesthe contacts 15A and 15B of the movable dual bridge connector 15 against the fixed contacts 11' and 12 to close a circuit. Circuit connectors 16 and 17 lead from the fixed contacts 11 and 12 respectively. The case 10 has a home stop 18. A spring 19 resiliently bears on the rocker arm 13 displaceably seating one end of the rocker arm 13 on the home stop 18. An actuator 20 is movably mounted in the case 10. The spring 19 resiliently urges the actuator 20 towards its start position 21. A pawl 22 having torsion spring resilience is mounted on the actuator 20 at one end of the pawl and the other end of the pawl 22 bears on the rocker arm 13 on the opposite side of the pin 14 relative to the home stop 18. A cam 23 is formed on the rocker arm 13 above the contact point of the pawl 22 with the rocker arm 13. The rocker arm 13 may be otherwise shaped to locate the contact point of the pawl 22 with the rocker arm 13 for actuation by the cam 23. It will be noted that the spring 19 lies between the rocker arm 13 and the actuator 20 resiliently urging them in opposite directions to their home and start positions respectively.

Referring to FIG. 7, a spring 19A based on the case 10A resiliently engages the actuator 20A to displaceably urge it toward its start position and a spring 19B based on the case 10A resiliently engages the rocker arm 13A to urge it toward its home stop 18A. The pawl 22A has a cam lobe 23A and a cam block 238 is mounted on the case 10A. After the movable contact 15 and the fixed contact 12 have been closed, the lobe 23A on the pawl 22A comes into engagement with the cam block 23B to move the pawl 22A off the rocker arm 13A. It will be understood that the modification seen in FIG. 7 has the same sequence of action as the device of FIGS. 1-6, now described.

The device is positioned adjacent a part, now shown, whose movement is to be signaled by the closing of the fixed contacts ll12 and the movable bridge connector 15, for example. The exposed end of the actuator 20 is located in the path of movement of the part. As the part moves, its engagement with the exposed end of the actuator 20 moves the actoator 20 from its position seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 7, through the position seen in FIG. 4 to the position seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. In moving from the position seen in FIG. 3 to the position seen in FIG. 4, the actuator 20 moves the pawl 22 against the rocker arm 13 causing the rocker arm 13 to pivot and swing the movable contacts A and 15B of the bridge connector 15 against the fixed contacts 11 and 12 closingthe circuit attached to the circuit connectors 16 and 17.

In moving from the position seen in FIG. 4 to the position seen in FIG. 5, the actuator moves the pawl 22 pivoting the rocker arm 13 farther swinging the cam 23 against the pawl 22 moving it torsionally out of engagement with the rocker arm 13.

Similarly, farther movement of the pawl 22A, FIG. 7, brings the lobe 23A against the block 238 moving the pawl 22A torsionally out of engagement with the rocker arm 13A.

Upon the pawl 22 being moved out of engagement with the rocker arm l3, the spring 19 reversely swings the rocker arm 13 to its home stop 18 in the reverse direction and this action moves the movable contacts 15A and 158 out of engagement with the fixed contacts 11 and 12 opening the circuit attached to the circuit connectors 16 and 17, FIG. 6, where it will be noted that the actuator 20 is still in its actuated position after its unidirectional movement and prior to any reverse movement to open the contacts.

Upon later reverse movement of the part, not shown, the actuator 20 is released and the spring 19 returns the actuator 20 to its start position 21 and the pawl 22 moves back torsionally and reengages the rocker arm 13 to be in position to repeat the described momentary closing of the movable contacts 15A and 158 with the fixed contacts 11 and 12 upon the next movement of the part.

In the modification of FIG. 7, the single movable contact 15 is connected by pig-tail spring wire 30 to the connector 17. Thus the circuit includes the movable contact 15 on one side and the fixed contact 12 on the other side. The circuit is open by the space between the contacts 15 and 12. With the movement of the rocker arm 13A, the moving contact 15 engages the fixed contact 12 closing the circuit. The description of the sequence of action relative to the device of FIGS. l-6 applies similarly to the modification of FIG. 7.

While only two embodiments have been particularly described, it will be understood that various equivalents of the device may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A switch for momentarily closing a circuit by engaging and then immediately disengaging its contacts in a unidirectional actuating motion, comprising,

a case,

a fixed contact on said case,

a first stop on said case,

a rocker arm centrally pivotably mounted on said case having a home position abutting said first stop; said rocker arm having first and second steps on opposite sides of its pivot point;

a movable contact on said rocker arm for engaging said fixed contact on said case with swinging movement of said rocker arm off its home position,

a second stop on said case,

an actuating member movably mounted on said case having a start position, abutting said second stop,

spring means on said case displaceably resiliently urging said actuating member to its start position against said second stop and said rocker arm to home position against said first stop by bearing on said first step;

torsion spring pawl extending from said actuating member engaging said second step on said rocker arm when said actuating member is at its start positionand said rocker arm is at its home position; said pawl being flexibly springwise movable out of engagement with said second step of said rocker arm; and

cam means for flexing said pawl out of engagement with said second step of said rocker arm after said movable contact has engaged said fixed contact;

said actuating member in a unidirectional actuating motion against said spring means moving said pawl against said second step on said rocker arm to pivot said rocker arm to swing said movable contact into engagement with said fixed contact and then to engage said cam means against said pawl to disengage said pawl from said second step of said rockerarm whereupon said spring means bearing on said first step of said rocker arm returns said rocker arm to its home position opening said contacts with said actuating member in its actuated condition and without reverse motion.

2. A switch for momentarily closing a circuit by engaging and then immediately disengaging its contacts in a unidirectional actuating motion, comprising,

a case,

a fixed contact on said case,

a rocker arm-pivotably mounted on said case having a home position,

a movable contact on said rocker arm for engaging said fixed contact on said case with swinging movement of said rocker arm off its home position,

an actuating member movably mounted on said case having a start position,

spring means on said case displaceably resiliently urging said actuating member to its start position and said rocker arm to its home position;

a pawl extending from said actuating member engaging said rocker arm when said actuating member is at its start position and said rocker arm is at its home position; said pawl being movable out of engagement with said rocker arm; and

cam means for moving said pawl out of engagement with said rocker arm after said movable contact has engaged said fixed contact;

said actuating member in a unidirectional actuating motion against said spring means moving said pawl to pivot said rocker arm to swing said movable contact into engagement with said fixed contact and then to engage said cam means to disengage said pawl from said rocker arm whereupon said spring means returns said rocker arm to its home position opening said contacts with said actuting member in its actuated condition and without reverse motion; I said spring means being a single spring disposed between said actuator member and saidrocker arm displaceably resiliently urging them toward their start and home positions respectively.

3. In a switch as set forth in claim 1, said spring means comprising two springs with one said spring biasing said actuator member and the other said spring biasing said rocker arm.

4. A switch for momentarily closing a circuit by engaging and then immediately disengaging its contacts in a unidirectional actuating motion, comprising,

a case,

a fixed contact on said case,

" a rocker arm pivotably mounted on said case having a home position, a movable contact on said rocker arm for engaging said fixed contact on said case with swinging movement of said rocker arm off its home position,

an actuating member movably mounted on said case,

having a start position,

spring means on said case displaceably resiliently, urging said actuting member to its start position' and said rocker arm to its home position;

a pawl extending from saidactuating member eengaging said rocker arm when said actuating member is at its start position and said rocker arm is at its home position; said pawl being movable out of engagement with said rocker arm; and

cam means for moving said pawl out of engagement with said rocker arm after said movable contact has engaged said fixed contact;

said actuating member in a unidirectional actuating motion against said spring means moving said pawl to pivot said rocker arm to swing said movable contact into engagement with said fixed contact and then to engage said cam means to disengage said pawl from said rocker arm whereupon said spring means returns said rocker arm to its home position opening said contacts with said actuating member in its actuated condition and without reverse motion;

said cam means being a cam carried by said rocker arm; said rocker arm in its pivotal motion after said contacts engage one another swinging said cam against said pawl to move said pawl out of engagement with said rocker arm.

5. In a switch as set forth in claim 1, said cam means being a lobe on said pawl; said case having a cam block spaced from said lobe at the start of actuating motion; said lobe engaging said block after said contacts engage one another to move said pawl out of engagement with said rocker arm.

- 6. In a switch as set forth in claim 1, said case having two fixed contacts; and said movable contact being a bridge dual connector engageable with both said fixed contacts to close a circuit between said two fixed contacts.

7. In a switch as set forth in claim 1, said case haivng one fixed contact; and said moving contact being a single contact closable against said fixed contact; said fixed and moving contacts being connectable in a circuit; said fixed and moving contacts closing the circuit when in engagement with each other. 

1. A switch for momentarily closing a circuit by engaging and then immediately disengaging its contacts in a unidirectional actuating motion, comprising, a case, a fixed contact on said case, a first stop on said case, a rocker arm centrally pivotably mounted on said case having a home position abutting said first stop; said rocker arm having first and second steps on opposite sides of its pivot point; a movable contact on said rocker arm for engaging said fixed contact on said case with swinging movement of said rocker arm off its home position, a second stop on said case, an actuating member movably mounted on said case having a start position, abutting said second stop, spring means on said case displaceably resiliently urging said actuating member to its start position against said second stop and said rocker arm to home position against said first stop by bearing on said first step; a torsion spring pawl extending from said actuating member engaging said second step on said rocker arm when said actuating member is at its start position and said rocker arm is at its home position; said pawl being flexibly springwise movable out of engagement with said second step of said rocker arm; and cam means for flexing said pawl out of engagement with said second step of said rocker arm after said movable contact has engaged said fixed contact; said actuating member in a unidirectional actuating motion against said spring means moving said pawl against said second step on said rocker arm to pivot said rocker arm to swing said movable contact into engagement with said fixed contact and then to engage said cam means against said pawl to disengage said pawl from said second step of said rocker arm whereupon said spring means bearing on said first step of said rocker arm returns said rocker arm to its home position opening said contacts with said actuating member in its actuated condition and without reverse motion.
 2. A switch for momentarily closing a circuit by engaging and then immediately disengaging its contacts in a unidirectional actuating motion, comprising, a case, a fixed contact on said case, a rocker arm pivotably mounted on said case having a home position, a movable contact on said rocker arm for engaging said fixed contact on said case with swinging movement of said rocker arm off its home position, an actuating member movably mounted on said case having a start position, spring means on said case displaceably resiliently urging said actuating member to its start position and said rocker arm to its home position; a pawl extending from said actuating member engaging said rocker arm when said actuating member is at its start position and said rocker arm is at its home position; said pawl being movable out of engagement with said rocker arm; and cam means for moving said pawl out of engagement with said rocker arm after said movable contact has engaged said fixed contact; said actuating member in a unidirectional actuating motion against said spring means moving said pawl to pivot said rocker arm to swing said movable contact into engagement with said fixed contact and then to engage said cam means to disengage said pawl from said rocker arm whereupon said spring means returns said rocker arm to its home position opening said contacts with said actuting member in its actuated condition and without reverse motion; said spring means being a single spring disposed between said actuator member and said rocker arm displaceably resiliently urging them toward their start and home positions respectively.
 3. In a switch as set forth in claim 1, said spring means comprising two springs with one said spring biasing said actuator member and the other said spring biasing said rocker arm.
 4. A switch for momentarily closing a circuit by engaging and then immediately disengaging its contacts in a unidirectional actuating motion, comprising, a case, a fixed contact on said case, a rocker arm pivotably mounted on said case having a home position, a movable contact on said rocker arm for engaging said fixed contact on said case with swinging movement of said rocker arm off its home position, an actuating member movably mounted on said case having a start position, spring means on said case displaceably resiliently urging said actuting member to its start position and said rocker arm to its home position; a pawl extending from said actuating member eengaging said rocker arm when said actuating member is at its start position and said rocker arm is at its home position; said pawl being movable out of engagement with said rocker arm; and cam means for moving said pawl out of engagement with said rocker arm after said movable contact has engaged said fixed contact; said actuating member in a unidirectional actuating motion against said spring means moving said pawl to pivot said rocker arm to swing said movable contact into engagement with said fixed contact and then to engage said cam means to disengage said pawl from said rocker arm whereupon said spring means returns said rocker arm to its home position opening said contacts with said actuating member in its actuated condition and without reverse motion; said cam means being a cam carried by said rocker arm; said rocker arm in its pivotal motion after said contacts engage one another swinging said cam against said pawl to move said pawl out of engagement with said rocker arm.
 5. In a switch as set forth in claim 1, said cam means being a lobe on said pawl; said case having a cam block spaced from said lobe at the start of actuating motion; said lobe engaging said block after said contacts engage one another to move said pawl out of engagement with said rocker arm.
 6. In a switch as set forth in claim 1, said case having two fixed contacts; and said movable contact being a bridge dual connector engageable with both said fixed contacts to close a circuit between said two fixed contacts.
 7. In a switch as set forth in claim 1, said case haivng one fixed contact; and said moving contact being a single contact closable against said fixed contact; said fixed and moving contacts being connectable in a circuit; said fixed and moving contacts closing the circuit when in engagement with each other. 